Business Letter Template

Some notes on business letters.

It is a strong trend to use 'open' punctuation in the business world. This means that in a typed letter the date, the reference, the address, the salutation, and the complimentary close are presented without any punctuation. The body of the letter is punctuated normally, with certain exceptions.

The writer's address

aIt is normal practice for the name of the individual sending the letter to appear at the beginning of this address.

bIf a house number is used, it is not necessary to put a comma between this and the street number. Avoid abbreviations such as St. (Street), Ave (Avenue), and Rd. (Road).

cThere should be a comma at the end of each line, except for the last line before the postcode. A full stop is used here.

dNo punctuation is required in the postcode.

eIn handwritten letters the address should be printed completely in capital letters. However, it is acceptable to use printed capitals for the name of the town.

fIf a house name is used instead of, or in addition to, a number, this name is written on a separate line (for typed letters too)

gIf there is a recognized abbreviation for the country, this can be used, ( the same is for typed letters), e.g.

The reference

aIn a typed letter from a firm, this should contain the initials of the person authorizing (dictating) the letter and those of the typist. Sometimes other symbols are used to help with identification e.g. document code.

bIn a handwritten letter a reference is not normally required unless this is quoted from some previous communication related to the subject of your letter. In this case it should be written as 'Your Ref.' and positional at the left-hand margin.

cSome printed letters heads have spaces for 'Our Ref.' and 'Your Ref.' This is self-explanatory, but the writer’s reference should always be placed at the left-hand margin, e.g.

The date

aPresent the date in the correct order – day, month and year.(NB!Am.E – month, date and year)

b The only standard punctuation necessary in the date is the comma after the month.

cThere is no full stop after endings used with the day numbers such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th.

Dates can be expressed in a variety of ways: 2 November 1995; 2.11.95; 2 Nov. '95; November 11th 1995; November 11 1995.

The recipient’s address.

aThe same punctuation rules apply here as for the sender's address.

b The name of the person (or his/her official title) should be included. A clergyman should be addressed as The Rev John Smith, or The Rev Mr. Smith. A Member of Parliament should be addressed as Mary Jones MP.

e.g.

The salutation

aThe standard beginning to a business letter is

Dear Sir, but others are used in certain circumstances:

Dear Sirs, when the letter is addressed to a partnership;

Dear Madam, whether a woman is single or married;

Mesdames, when a partnership consists of women only.

bThe first letter of each word should begin with the capital letter.

cThe salutation should be followed by a comma.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 772